A battery of strength tests for evidence-based classification in Para swimming

Luke Hogarth; Vaughan P Nicholson; Jemima Spathis; Sean Tweedy; Emma Beckman; Mark Connick; Peter van de Vliet; Carl Payton; Brendan J Burkett

doi:10.1080/02640414.2018.1504606

Back

A battery of strength tests for evidence-based classification in Para swimming

Journal article

Peer reviewed

A battery of strength tests for evidence-based classification in Para swimming

Luke Hogarth, Vaughan P Nicholson, Jemima Spathis, Sean Tweedy, Emma Beckman, Mark Connick, Peter van de Vliet, Carl Payton and Brendan J Burkett

Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.37(4), pp.404-413

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1504606

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1504606View

Published Version

Abstract

disability

Paralympics

cerebral palsy

spinal cord injury

validity

reliability

UniSC Diversity Area - Disability and Inclusion

This study examined the validity of isometric strength tests for evidence-based classification in Para swimming. Thirty non-disabled participants and forty-two Para swimmers with physical impairment completed an isometric strength test battery designed to explain activity limitation in the freestyle discipline. Measures pertaining to dominant and non-dominant limb strength and symmetry were derived from four strength tests that were found to be reliable in a cohort of non-disabled participants (ICC = 0.85-0.97; CV = 6.4-9.1%). Para swimmers had lower scores in strength tests compared with non-disabled participants (d = 0.14-1.00) and the strength test battery successfully classified 95% of Para swimmers with physical impairment using random forest algorithm. Most of the strength measures had low to moderate correlations (r = 0.32 to 0.53; p ≤ 0.05) with maximal freestyle swim speed in Para swimmers. Although, fewer correlations were found when Para swimmers with hypertonia or impaired muscle power were analysed independently, highlighting the impairment-specific nature of activity limitation in Para swimming. Collectively, the strength test battery has utility in Para swimming classification to infer loss of strength in Para swimmers, guide minimum eligibility criteria, and to define the impact that strength impairment has on Para swimming performance.

Details

Title: A battery of strength tests for evidence-based classification in Para swimming
Authors: Luke Hogarth (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Vaughan P Nicholson (Author) - Australian Catholic University
Jemima Spathis (Author) - Australian Catholic University
Sean Tweedy (Author) - University of Queensland
Emma Beckman (Author) - University of Queensland
Mark Connick (Author) - University of Queensland
Peter van de Vliet (Author) - International Paralympic Committee, Germany
Carl Payton (Author) - Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
Brendan J Burkett (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.37(4), pp.404-413
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1504606
ISSN: 0264-0414
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450763102621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

3052 Record Views

22 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Sport Sciences